Leeds student attacked on her way home

A student suffered nasty injuries as she was dragged along the ground beside a car as she held on to her handbag when she was targeted by a robber.

A court heard the victim, aged in her early twenties, was attacked as she made he way home from a night out in Leeds city centre.

Leeds Crown Court was told a group of young men travelling in a car targeted her as she made her way back to her home.

Jeremy Hill-Baker, prosecuting, said the victim became frightened as the car pulled up alongside her on Park Lane and sexually offensive comments were made to towards her.

The car continued to follow her before Teymur Ahmed, 21, reached out of the front passenger window and grabbed her handbag. The victim refused to let go of the bag and was dragged along the ground as driver Kamil Dunworth, 22, accelerated away. She lost her grip on the bag and was left laying by the side of the road. She needed hospital treatment after suffering serious cuts and bruises to her face and body.

In a statement, the victim said: “They left me by the road side. I could have been dead for all they knew.”

Ahmed and Dunworth were traced after the incident, which took place on February 23 last year. They both denied doing anything wrong. Ahmed was found guilty of robbery and Dunworth was found guilty of dangerous driving after a trial.

The jury heard the two men had been “showing off” in the car after attending a wedding.

Charlotte Eastwood, for Ahmed, said the offence had not been planned. She added that Ahmed had apologised for his behaviour and would lose a good job if he was sent to prison.

Kate Batty, for Dunworth, said her client was of previous good character and was a hard working graduate.

Dunworth was sent to a prison for two years. Dunworth was given a nine month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and told to pay £500 to the victim.

Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, told Ahmed: “It was perfectly obvious that this was going to result in injury. You must have known she was being dragged along. Nonetheless you hung on to that handbag.”